I have a special request! You see, myself (second year on the playa) and two friends (both virgins) have recently found ourselves without a camp to stay with!! We have so far had two camps lined up, but they have both fallen through! We can't afford to bring our own stove, shade structure, ect. and we could really use some help!!

Does anyone know of a theme camp or private camp that we could stay with? there are three of us, but two are staying in the same tent, but we can pay camp fees or make contributions to the camp i.e. cooking, cleaning, building, giving rides from San Francisco (one extra seat). This would be an IMMENSE help!! We're still new to the playa and want to make sure that we wont starve and/or be swallowed up by sand storms.

I'm sorry you feel so desperate about your situation. You really needn't be desperate. The price of camp fees would buy many little stoves and many shade tarps structures. You could even save some money by D.I.Y. I think you have the power of the force of self sufficiency and self reliance within you, young jedi.

I understand how overwhelming it can seem... My second burn was the first time I tried to camp by myself. Since I went super cheap and did not test most of my new gear, we could say that burn was a complete disaster. (My shade structure fell apart as I was putting it up, I lost my can opener during setup, and ended up feeling like a complete burden on some friends I had camped near.) My third burn was much more self-sufficient. I had some better gear and tested everything at home before leaving.. There were a few issues on-playa but mostly drama due to my sleep deprivation (up for 4 days straight

This year I am skipping the 3 day drive and flying in. So, I have to cram all my gear into two duffel bags (last year I had a 7'x12' trailer), and scale down to the bare minimum.

It is possible to skip the need to cook stuff if necessary. . . Just buy canned food and leave it in your tent. for a instant warm meal, take it out around 2pm and vola - open & eat.

The above comments are based on my experiences, your reality is most likely different

I really appreciate your awesome comments! As it stands though, I'm really trying to avoid a crash and burn kind of situation. While I'm in San Francisco and will make the trek like most burners, my two companions are coming out here from Boston. I really don't want to end up with a deflated camp or to come home at dawn and find all of our stuff has been stolen or something similarly tragic.

Getting some feedback has definitely reduced my desperation (for now) and I'm glad to see the BM community offer to help me out. Thanks again!!

I really appreciate your awesome comments! As it stands though, I'm really trying to avoid a crash and burn kind of situation. While I'm in San Francisco and will make the trek like most burners, my two companions are coming out here from Boston. I really don't want to end up with a deflated camp or to come home at dawn and find all of our stuff has been stolen or something similarly tragic.

Getting some feedback has definitely reduced my desperation (for now) and I'm glad to see the BM community offer to help me out. Thanks again!!

~Kindred

Kindred, I wasn't planning on going to the playa this year till about a month ago, when my other plans changed and I realized I would be able to. But, I had no money saved for this year's burn and realized I would have to buy a full priced ticket.

So, I did a self inventory of skills and capital and figured out a way to raise the money to go. I bought my ticket last week, and continue to raise money for the extras now, like new boots and a new tent.

Have a yard sale, flip bikes, sell blood. Celebrate Radical Self Reliance. It's our way. There really is nothing better than realizing what you can do on your own.

I really appreciate your awesome comments! As it stands though, I'm really trying to avoid a crash and burn kind of situation. While I'm in San Francisco and will make the trek like most burners, my two companions are coming out here from Boston. I really don't want to end up with a deflated camp or to come home at dawn and find all of our stuff has been stolen or something similarly tragic.

Getting some feedback has definitely reduced my desperation (for now) and I'm glad to see the BM community offer to help me out. Thanks again!!

~Kindred

Why would anything get stolen? I've camped next to folks that have merely put a tarp over their car door and used a $20 camping stove and a couple of foldable chairs.... Really, not hard.... Or for $99 you can get a little canopy and tie down with guy wire... presto....

What it sounds like is that you want the comfort and nice-ities of a large camp. I can understand that 100%. You're out there for a week, why not have something a little more comfy...

Best rest assured, if it doesn't pan out, you really can camp by yourself pretty easily.... The benefits are: its cheap and build-up/tear-down is a total breeze....

You can always sell your ticket is you feel that you're not prepared to be 100% radically self-reliant. This year would have been my fourth, and I sold mine because I didn't feel I could have done it justice.

Ugly Dougly wrote:You can always sell your ticket is you feel that you're not prepared to be 100% radically self-reliant. This year would have been my fourth, and I sold mine because I didn't feel I could have done it justice.

Oh Dougly! So sorry to hear you had to give up your ticket. But I feel you. Totally!

We have space for Campers and have a variety of options to offer you. We have been placed at 2 o'clock and Athens. The location will be hard to beat. We will be leaving from San Francisco. If you are interested in joining us you should contact me at paddymirage@gmail.com We have years of experience and will have all the things you are looking for in a camp. You can check out our website to see what we have done in the past. http://burntheirishbar.com/ Burning Man is about self reliance and camping in a theme camp provides a partial support system but the experience will always be up to you.

hope this helps,
Smarkles

Paddy Mirage is a glowing place of creativity and socializing in the setting of an Irish Bar, a place of laughter, music and cheer; a community environment for the all social classes to share.

Theme camps cost moolahs and required participation. Everyone pools their resources and ya it is usually cooler than any group can do alone.. but if it sounds like you are cash poor.. then enjoy the beauty of being cash poor.

I know people that go to the playa and scour free food all week for most of their meals.. only bringing tasty bites , soymilk/granola (yes I'm from san francisco). You CAN DO Burning man really cheap. That means usually not with a theme camp.

Elsewise - i would try to find a camp that appeals to you that you feel you can be a true contributing member to because you're inspired by what they are doing.. you love the idea of offering late night chai, or live music, or running an awesome bar.. or caretaking fire art, etc.

yeah, i hear ya; my ticket was expensive enough, and there's fossil fuel and money to burn to get there. plus all the supplies. i don't want to pay to be in a theme camp this first time especially; i just want to help grow a camp with others who want to be theme- and fancy free.

I'm campless too. I don't want to be too close to the Esplanade - was considering just pitching a lone tent or joining Hushville. I have most of the stuff I need, but it would be great if I could have access to someone's shade structure.

Clar-i-ty wrote:Have a yard sale, flip bikes, sell blood. Celebrate Radical Self Reliance. It's our way. There really is nothing better than realizing what you can do on your own.

Going through the same set of challenges, who isnâ€™t? I'd recommend the following:

1) A challenge to self-reliance can be used as excuse for feeling bad about your situation *or* as an opportunity for making yourself happy. Most of the time most people (including yours truly) cannot hope to control their situation, but you've always got leverage on your own brain. You know what you want ("I want to go to Burning Man and have a singularly good time that I'll be unable to forget when they put me in the nursing home because i can't recall who I am.").
2) You can clearly call out the challenges you and your mates will experience getting to what you want ("Have car that over heats = potential risk. Mitigation = carry a little coolant or ride in someone else's nicer car").
3) And because you know what you want and you know how to get to it you have exceptional leverage to manhandle your angst and anguish over what is, undoubtedly, a crappy situation. Every time I feel the words â€œyeah, butâ€